This is a long linear site which follows a portion of the Common Watercourse. In addition to the fen at the eastern end of the watercourse itself, the site also includes an area of open woodland and the Williams Fishing Lake. This eastern end of the Common Watercourse is now part of Cely Woods, one of the Thames Chase Community Forests, and is accessible from Warwick Lane and Romford Road.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Common Watercourse and Williams Fishing Lake
Borough: Havering
Grade: Borough Grade II
Access: Free public access (part of site)
Area: 6.36 ha
Description
Wildlife
The relatively rich wet tall-herb fen is dominated by branched bur-reed. Purple loosestrife, meadowsweet, common comfrey, common reed, water mint, gypsywort and yellow iris grow here too. The woodland lies further west and is dominated by a line of large white willows. At ground-level, plants include ivy and lords-and-ladies, false fox-sedge and abundant wood dock. The ash trees have numerous woodpecker holes. Williams Fishing Lake originates from restored gravel workings, with steep banks clothed in scrub and tall herbs and is attractive to wildfowl. The lake margins have some small stands of great reedmace and common reed, and a small area of dense oak, hawthorn, osier and grey willow scrub occurs at the south end of the lake. The site also supports water voles.Facilities
No information available
Cely Bridge © Thames Chase Community Forest
Water vole © Andy Fisher
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